Who is NIO Comm?
NIO Comm is a comprehensive service provider offering everything from delivery consultancy to turnkey network upgrade solutions. Operating predominantly in the South-East of England, NIO Comm services around 6,500 homes per month, with a field team of over 200 engineers.
The company specialises in solutions for the provision or upgrade of Optical (FTTH), RF (HFC), and Twisted Pair Access Networks. Their consultancy arm can define and cost projects from high-level briefs, manage project execution and offer services such as planning, civils, cabling, and commissioning. NIO Comm was founded to address the need for a truly technical implementation consultancy in the Access Network space, bridging the gap between MSOs and technical equipment vendors.
NIO Comm prides itself in existing beyond just ‘another corporate force in the market’, instead providing bespoke solutions, backed by a growing team of dedicated engineers and support staff who share their values to provide quality, personalised and reliable solutions.
Challenges
NIO Comm faced several challenges before they collaborated with MapAll. Their work lacked a centralised and transparent system to track job progress and manage roadblocks. Paperwork was often outdated, changes went unreported, and delays caused by blockers or obstacles needed to be accurately tracked. Managers relied heavily on engineers’ reports, which were not always timely or consistent.
Another challenge was implementing a reliable system to track and report on the distance engineers covered each day. This was essential for ensuring accurate remuneration of contractors and recognising in-house teams. Previously, this process relied on verbal reports and incomplete paperwork.
Additionally, NIO Comm was looking to reduce the frequency of costly blockage reports to BT, which resulted in significant fines and project delays.
The Solution
NIO Comm initially turned to MapAll to track the progress of their builds and gain visibility into planned and as-built work. Over time, the relationship evolved into a collaborative partnership, with NIO Comm integrating MapAll into their entire project lifecycle, from planning to completion.
MapAll’s planning tool allows NIO Comm’s designers to break down large projects into manageable areas for engineers, facilitating fast and accurate execution. This end-to-end solution enables multiple departments to work seamlessly together, streamlining operations across the board. It combines human skill and experience, with a tech solution that combines the best of both worlds for improved outcomes. The GIS platform enables accurate distance measuring, to assist in efficient, cost-effective and accurate planning and deployment.
The blockage reporting feature was another key advantage, enabling engineers to quickly identify and respond to obstacles. Blockages requiring external intervention are flagged for BT, while internal teams can address other obstructions, significantly reducing downtime and costs.
Results
Transparency and fairness – NIO Comm now operates with full transparency, enabling managers and engineers to track progress and performance without relying on subjective reporting. This has fostered a fairer and more reliable remuneration system for contractors and in-house teams alike.
- Ongoing development – The partnership between NIO Comm and MapAll continues to evolve, with both companies working together to develop new features and upgrades that enhance the fibre rollout process, with a focus on functionality first.
- Reliable information stream – With MapAll’s evidence-based platform, NIO Comm now has an accurate, real-time view of each project’s status. This aligns with their commitment to transparency and allows for better recognition of engineers’ work.
The collaboration with MapAll has provided NIO Comm with an end-to-end solution that delivers reliable, fact-based information, empowering them to make informed business decisions. The tool has been tailored to meet the unique needs of fibre installation, providing faster and more efficient outcomes.
In addition, MapAll has provided ongoing support in assisting early adopters of the new technology to become ambassadors of the product, helping to hasten and smoothen the change manage challenges presented when new software is introduced.
Conclusion
The relationship between NIO Comm and MapAll truly embodies the power of collaboration. Together, they’ve developed a tool that delivers real, tangible benefits to both field engineers and management teams.
Steve Farrell, Managing Director of NIO Comm, said, “Working with MapAll has been like a continuous honeymoon period—always eager to impress and deliver excellence. The passion behind MapAll’s development is evident, from the features that bring tangible benefits to the business daily, to the unwavering support from the entire team. It’s not just about the technology; the human input has been equally valuable.”
He added, “What excites us most is that, while we’ve already seen incredible improvements, we know this is just the beginning of a tool that will truly revolutionise our industry.”
With MapAll’s platform, NIO Comm has streamlined its planning, design, and deployment processes, cutting down time and costs while maintaining operational flexibility. The collaboration is an ongoing success story, poised to continue delivering greater efficiencies in the years to come.
